California cuts interconnection costs for distributed solar developers that agree to export limits
By agreeing to limit exports to the grid at peak generation hours, distributed energy resources like rooftop solar and energy storage can now avoid delays and costly infrastructure upgrades.
Sodium-ion batteries – a viable alternative to lithium?
While lithium ion battery prices are falling again, interest in sodium ion (Na-ion) energy storage has not waned. With a global ramp-up of cell manufacturing capacity under way, it remains unclear whether this promising technology can tip the scales on supply and demand. Marija Maisch reports.
Sunrise brief: U.S. energy storage grows 90% year-over-year
Also on the rise: Burns & McDonnell completes 764 MW solar portfolio in Wisconsin, evaluating the profitability of vanadium flow batteries, and more.
Evaluating the profitability of vanadium flow batteries
Researchers in Italy have estimated the profitability of future vanadium redox flow batteries based on real device and market parameters and found that market evolutions are heading to much more competitive systems, with capital costs down to €260/kWh at a storage duration of 10 hours.
Sunrise brief: Slowing residential solar growth continues into 2024
Also on the rise: IRENA says world needs 1.1 TW of renewables per year, what’s in store for energy storage, and more.
Next-gen battery trends
Lithium ion is the industry standard for a reason. Marija Maisch examines the most promising technological advances that could lead to further improvements in performance and cost from this versatile battery chemistry.
Sunrise brief: Can anything topple lithium-ion?
Also on the rise: Tesla’s power play, New York announces clean hydrogen funds, solar wafer market oversupply, and more.
Scientists identify new ‘promising’ absorber material for thin-film solar cells
Researchers in the United States have identified zintl-phosphide (BaCd2P2) as a new potential high efficiency absorber material for thin-film PV applications among 40,000 promising inorganic materials. The selected compound has a potential energy bandgap of 1.45 eV and a carrier lifetime of up to 30 ns.
New modular design for offshore floating photovoltaic platforms
A team of scientists from China and the United States studied ways to optimize floating photovoltaics for offshore use. It found that the robustness of the systems was influenced by the size and number of platforms, as well as the types of connections between platforms.
New York announces $16 million fund for clean hydrogen research and demonstration
The office of Governor Hochul released funds administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
